Stop CUNY $300 Annual Tuition Increase

This increase will be a great economic impact for most CUNY students and will force many to withdraw from college. More than half of CUNY students live in households with incomes of less than $30,000 a year. Taking into consideration New York City high cost of living, is it possible for a student to afford such a high tuition? Many CUNY students hold a full time job while also going to school full time. Their finances are extremely tight and even $300 would represent a heavy burden for them. Some CUNY students live in shelters and qualify for food stamps. How can a person living under these conditions afford to pay such a high tuition?

This is a very important moment in the history of Public Education in New York City. CUNY was established with the mission of making higher education accessible for all. At this moment that accessibility is in jeopardy for many students.

Letter to

John Jay College of Criminal JusticePresident Jeremy Travis

CUNY ChancellorDr. Matthew Goldstein

Hunter CollegePresident Jennifer J. Raab

and 19 others

President, Baruch College PresidentDr. Mitchell B. Wallerstein

President, The City College of New YorkDr. Lisa Staiano - Coico

President, New York City College of TechnologyDr. Russell K. Hotzler

President, Bronx Community CollegeDr. Carole B. Joseph

President, College of Staten IslandDr. Tomas D. Morales

President, Kingsborough Community CollegeDr. Regina S. Peruggi

President, Borough of Manhattan Community CollegeDr. Antonio Perez

President, The Graduate Center, CUNYDr. William P. Kelly

President, Brooklyn CollegeDr. Karen L. Gould

President, Lehman CollegeDr. Ricardo R. Fernandez

President, La Guardia Community CollegeDr. Gail O. Mellow

President, Queens CollegeDr. James L. Muyskens

President, Hostos Community CollegeDr. Felix V. Matos Rodriguez

President, Queensborough Community CollegeDr. Diane Bova Call

President, York CollegeDr. Marcia V. Keizs

President, Medgar Evers CollegeDr. William L. Pollard

New York State House

New York State Senate

New York Governor

I just signed the following petition addressed to: CUNY Chancellor, Dr. Mathew Goldstein, CUNY Colleges Presidents and State elected officials

----------------Stop Planned CUNY Tuition Increases

As if the Spring and Fall 2011 tuition increases were not enough, there are more coming. Thanks to a state legislature bill approved in July, the CUNY Board of Trustees will be allowed to increase tuition for full time students by $300 for the next 5 years. This tuition increase trend started with a 15% increase in 2009, then in Spring 2011 students were hit with another 5% increase and yet another 2% increase for the Fall semester. This last one went into effect by the time registration payment was due, so those students who have already paid their bills found themselves suddenly owing more money to the school. The situation was even worse for those with tuition payment plans because this sudden tuition increase added more money to their existing tuition debt. Of course these tuition increases are not enough and now the CUNY Board of Trustees wants to extract even more money out of CUNY students. Thanks to a state legislature bill approved in July, the CUNY Board of Trustees will be allowed to increase tuition for full time students by $300 for the next 5 years. This increase will be a great economy impact for most CUNY students and will therefore them to withdraw from college. More than half of CUNY students live in households with incomes of less than $30,000 a year. Is it possible for a student to afford such a high tuition taking into consideration New York City high cost of living? As Barbara Bowen(President of Staff Congress - CUNY) pointed out, "many students hold a full time job while also going to school full time. They are at their maximum strength point in terms of finances, and even $300 can be extremely prohibitive." Francisco Crocco, an assistant professor of English said that some of his students live in shelters and qualify for food stamps. How can a person living under this conditions afford to pay such a high tuition?

This is a very important moment in the history of Public Education in New York City. CUNY was established with the mission of making higher education accessible for all. At this moment that accessibility is in jeopardy for many students. Please join me in keeping CUNY accessible for all and demand a stop to more tuition hikes. CUNY Board of Trustees will meet on November 28th at Baruch College to approve the annual tuition increases. Please act now and sign this petition. We still have time!